Container and spout therefor



May 21, 1957 H. STEWART v CONTAINER AND SPOUT THEREFOR Filed June 3,1955 IN V EN TOR. flail 5Z'ez1/czr This invention relates to a spout fora container and to the container including the spout.

One of the features of this invention is to provide a spent for acontainer adapted to be attached to a wall thereof and extendoutwardlythrough anopening therein comprising a spoutbase of plastic"material adapted to extend through said opening, an outerplastic' flangeintegral with said base and adaptedto bear against an outer surfaceportion of' said wall adjacent to said: opening and make sealing contacttherewith; an'dan inner plastic flange integral with said base andadapted tobear against aninner surface portion of said wall adjacent tosaid opening and make sealing? contact therewith, the inner and outerflanges each adapted to cover an area greater than that of said openingso as to embrace the wall portion defining the opening, the spout basebeing tapered inwardly from said inner flange to s'aid inner end toaidin inserting said base into said opening, the extreme inner and ofthe spout having a diameter less than that of said opening.

Another feature is to provide an improved container comprising a wallhaving an opening defined by an inwardly turned substantiallycylindrical wall portion, and a spout positioned in said openingincluding a spout base of plastic material extending through saidopening, an outer plastic flange integral with said base and bearingagainst an outer surface of the wall adjacent to said inwardly turnedwall portion and in sealing contact therewith, and an inner plasticflange integral with said base and bearing against the inner edge ofsaid inwardly turned wall portion, the inner flange being of small widthto provide a step construction and said inwardly turned wall portionbeing located between said flanges, the spout base being taperedinwardly from said inner flange to said inner end to aid in insertingsaid base into said opening, the extreme inner end of the spout having adiameter less than that of said opening, the portion of the spoutbetween said flanges being relativelythick in order to aid in preventingaccidental inward distortion thereof, the outer flange having an extremeouter edge tapered rearwardly toward the inner end of the spout.

A further feature is to provide an improved container comprising a wallhaving an opening defined by an inwardly turned substantiallycylindrical wall portion, and a spout positioned in said openingincluding a spout base of plastic material extending through saidopening, an outer plastic flange integral with said base and bearingagainst an outer surface of the wall adjacent to said inwardly turnedwall portion and in sealing contact therewith, and an inner plasticflange integral with said base and bearing against the inner edge ofsaid inwardly turned wall portion, the inner flange heing. of smallwidth to pro vide a step constructionand said inwardly turned wallportion being located between said flanges, the spout base being taperedinwardly from said inner flange to said inner end to aid in insertingsaid base int'os'aid opening, the extreme inner end of the spout havinga diameter i States Patent O 2,792,976 Patented May 21, 1957 2. lessthanthat of said opening, the portion of the spout between said flangesbeing relatively thick in order to aid in preventing accidental inwarddistortion thereof, the outer flange having an extreme outer edgetapered rearwardly toward the inner end of the spout.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the invention, particularly as related to theaccompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container and spout embodying theinvention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the spout and the adjacentportion of the container.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternate embodiment ofthe invention.

Figure 4 is aview similar to Figure 3 but with the tip of the spoutremoved.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 but with a nozzle cap inplace on the end of the spout.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention with theflexible plastic tube in place in the manner illustrated in Figure 1 andthe tube arranged in closed position.

Thecontainer 10 illustrated in the drawings includes an end walll'l.This end wall is provided with an opening adjacent to an edge thereofdefined by an inwardly directed substantially cylindrical flange 11a.This flange 11a is of relatively short height and is uniform in height,and define a substantially circular opening 11b.

Normally positioned within the opening 111: is a spout 12"of reluctantlydeformable relatively rigid plastic material; This plastic spoutincludes a base 13 extending through the openingll'b. The base has anouter plastic flange 14 integral therewith and bearing against the outersurface of the wall 11 adjacent to the inwardly turned flange 11a. Thebase 13 is also provided with an inner plastic flange 15 integral withthe base and bearing against the inner edge of the wall flange 11a. Thisinner flange 15 is of small width in order to provide. a stepconstruction. The container wall portion 11a is normally located betweenthe spout flanges 14 and 15. when the spout is in position in theopening 11b.

The extreme inner end of the spout base. 13 has its outer surface 13atapered inwardly from the inner flange 15 to the inner end 16 of thespout. This inner end 16 has an outer diameter that is less than thediameter of the opening defined by the wall flange 11a. The spout hasthe portion of the base 13 between. the flanges 14 and 15 relativelythick in order to prevent accidental inward distortion of the plasticbase at this point to aid in preventing accidental breaking of the sealbetween the spout base and the container wall.

The outer spout flange 14 is of relatively large diameter compared tothe remainder of the spout and to the diameter of the opening 11b in thecontainer wall 11. The outer surface 14a of this flange 14 is curvedoutwardly and inwardly toward the container wall 11 in order to meshsmoothly therewith. In its undistorted position before the spout hasbeen fixed in place within the opening 1112, this outer flange 14 isgenerally inwardly concave. Thus, positioning of the spout within theopening 11b in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 results in the flange14a being pressed firmly against outer surface of the container wall 11.

As has been pointed out, the surface 13a of the base between the end 16and the inner flange 15 is tapered in order to aid in inserting the baseinto the container opening 11b. To further aid this insertion, thebottom 15a of the inner flange 15 is similarly tapered.

When the container 11 and the spout 12 are sealed, theextre'me end 12ais closed so as toprovide a sealed tip. When it is desired to expel thecontents of the other greases container or a portion thereof, this tip12a may be removed as by cutting the extreme end of the spout with aknife 17 in the manner illustrated in Figure 3.

In the preferred construction, a flexible plastic tube 18 is providedfor use with the spout 12. Then if desired the tube 18 may have one end13a slipped over the outer end of the spout 12 so that the end 18a isfrictionally held on the spout. With this construction, the tube 18operates as an extension of the spout 12 to guide the contents of thecontainer to the desired destination. The tube 18 can, of course, beused only if desired.

One method of sealing the spout if only a portion of the contents of thecontainer are expelled so that there is a portion of the contentsremaining is illustrated in Figure 6. By this method, the tube 18 isbent back upon itself and the contacting portions squeezed together asby paper clip 19.

Another method of sealing the end of the spout 12 is illustrated inFigures 3, 4, and 5. In this embodiment, a molded plastic cap isattached to the outer spout flange 14 as by narrow neck 20a of plasticmaterial. When it is desired to use this cap 20, the neck 20a is servedas by using the knife 17 and the cap pressed down on the end of thespout 12 to make frictional sealing contact therewith in the mannerillustrated in Figure 5.

The spout 12 may be made of any inert plastic material that is notattacked by the contents of the container 10. In one embodiment, boththe spout 12 and the tube 18 were constructed of polyethylene. Thepolyethylene of the spout 12 is relatively rigid yet deformable underpressure. In contrast, the polyethylene of the tube 18 is flexible sothat the tube can be easily bent in the manner illustrated in Figure 6.It is, of course, obvious to those skilled in the art that any of alarge number of plastic materials or resinous materials may be used inplace of the polyethylene.

In inserting the spout 12 into the opening 11b, the base 13 of the spoutis heated by any means desired to a temperature above the softeningpoint of the plastic material. At this temperature, the base 13 isdeformable so that the base can be then inserted through the outer endof the opening 11b. The spout is thereupon pressed inwardly until theouter spout flange 14 bears firmly against the outer surface of thecontainer wall 11 and the inner flange 15 springs in behind the wallflange 11a to the position illustrated in Figure 2.

In the illustrated construction, the flanges 14 and 15 are spaced apartso that the wall flange 11a is grasped firmly therebetween. Furthermore,the diameter of the portion of the base 13 of the spout between thespout flanges 14 and 15 is slightly larger than the diameter of theopening 11b before the spout has been placed within the opening 11b.These factors, plus the relatively large area of contact of the base 13and spout flanges 14 and 15 with the wall 11, including the wall flange11a, insure a tight leakproof seal between the spout and the container.

As pointed out above, it is preferred that the nozzle 12 and the tube 18be made of a similar plastic material. Thus, the preferred plasticmaterial is polyethylene with the nozzle 12 being relatively hard,self-supporting, and resistant to deformation, while the tube 18 isflexible. When both the nozzle and the tube are made of polyethylene, itis noted that the end 18a of the tube when telescoped over the tip ofthe nozzle '12 in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 results in a jointthat is very strong. Thus, it takes a tremendous outward pull of thetube 18 in order to break the contact. This is a surprising result asthe polyethylene has a relatively low coefiicient of friction on metal,wood, and similar surfaces.

Having described my'invention as related to the embodiments shown in theaccompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be notlimited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specifiedbut rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope.

I claim:

1. A spout for a container adapted to be attached to a wall thereof andextend outwardly through an opening therein comprising, a spout base ofplastic material adapted to extend through said opening and including aninner end, and outer plastic flange integral with said base and adaptedto bear against an outer surface portion of said wall adjacent to saidopening and make sealing contact therewith, and an inner plastic flangeintegral with said base and adapted to bear against an inner surfaceportion of said wall adjacent to said opening and make sealing contacttherewith, the inner and outer flanges each adapted to cover an areagreater than that of said opening so as to embrace the wall portiondefining the opening, the inner flange being of small width to provide'astep construction and the outer flange being adapted to cover arelatively large area of said wall portion surrounding said area, thespout base being tapered in a portion extending inwardly from adjacentto said inner flange to said inner end to aid in inserting said baseinto said opening, the extreme inner end of the spout having a diameterless than that of said opening, the portion of the spout between saidflanges being relatively thick in comparison to the thickness of saidtapered portion in order to aid in preventing accidental inwarddistor-tion thereof.

2. A container, comprising, a wall having an opening defined by aninwardly turned wall portion, and a spout positioned in said openingincluding a spout base of plastic material extending through saidopening and including an inner end, an outer plastic flange integralwith said base and bearing against an outer surface of the wall adjacentto said inwardly turned wall portion and in sealing contact therewith,and an inner plastic flange integral with said base and bearing againstthe inner edge of said inwardly turned wall portion, the inner flangebeing of small width to provide a step construction and said inwardlyturned wall portion being located between said flanges, the spout basebeing tapered in a portion extending inwardly from adjacent to saidinner flange to said inner end to aid in inserting said base into saidopening, the extreme inner end of the spout having a diameter less thanthat of said opening, the portion of the spout between said flangesbeing relatively thick in comparison to the thickness of said taperedportion in order to aid in preventing accidental inward distortionthereof.

3. A spout for a container adapted to be attached to a wall thereof andextend outwardly through an opening therein comprising, a spout base ofplastic material adapted to extend through said openingand including aninner end, an outer plastic flange integral with said base and adaptedto bear against an outer surface portion of said wall adjacent to saidopening and make sealing contact therewith, and an inner plastic flangeintegral with said base and adapted to bear against an inner surfaceportion of said wall adjacent to said opening and make sealing contacttherewith, the inner and outer flanges each adapted to cover an areagreater than that of said opening so as to embrace the wall portiondefining the opening, the spout base being tapered in a portionextending inwardly from adjacent to said inner flange to said inner endto aid in inserting said base into said opening, the extreme inner endof the spout having a diameter less than that of said opening, and aclosure for the outer end of said spout detachably secured to said outerflanges.

4. A container, comprising, a Wall having an opening defined by aninwardly turned substantially cylindrical wall portion, and a spoutpositioned in said opening including a spout base of plastic materialextending through said opening and'including an inner end, an outerplastic flange integral with said base and bearing against an outersurface of the wall adjacent to said inwardly turned wall portion and insealing contact therewith, and an inner plastic flange integral withsaid base and bearing against the inner edge of said inwardly turnedwall portion, the inner flange being of small Width to provide a stepconstruction and said inwardly turned wall portion being located betweensaid flanges, the spout base being tapered in a portion extendinginwardly from adjacent to said inner flange to said inner end to aid ininserting said base into said opening, the extreme inner end of thespout having a diameter less than that of said opening, the portion ofthe spout between said flanges being relativeIy thick in comparison tothe thickness of said tapered portion in order to aid in preventingaccidental inward distortion thereof, the outer flange having an extremeouter edge tapered rearwardly toward the inner end of the spout, and aclosure for the outer end of said spout detachably secured to said outerflange.

5. A container, comprising, a Wall having an opening defined by aninwardly turned substantially cylindrical wall portion, and a spoutpositioned in said opening including a spout base of plastic materialextending through said opening and including an inner end, an outerplastic flange integral with said base and bearing against an outersurface of the wall adjacent to said inwardly turned wall portion and insealing contact there with, and an inner plastic flange integral withsaid base and bearing against the inner edge of said inwardly turnedwall portion, the inner flange being of small width to provide a stepconstruction and said inwardly turned wall portion being located betweensaid flanges, the spout base being tapered in a portion extendinginwardly from adjacent to said inner flange to said inner end to aid ininserting said base into said opening, the extreme inner end of thespout having a diameter less than that of said opening, the portion ofthe spout between said flanges being relatively thick in comparison tothe thickness of said tapered portion in order to aid in preventingaccidental inward distortion thereof, the outer flange having an extremeouter edge tapered rearwardly toward the inner end of the spout, and aplastic closure for the outer end of said spout detachably secured tosaid outer flange by a relatively thin neck of plastic material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS141,229 Matthews July 29, 1873 289,585 Veber Dec. 4, 1883 470,776Beehler Mar. 15, 1892 1,714,741 Urquhart May 28, 1929 2,207,176 PhillipsJuly 9, 1940 2,543,909 Hatheway Mar. 6, 1951 2,687,831 Miller Aug. 31,1954 2,716,511 Leathers Aug. 30, 1955

